Washing and/or scouring device for manual use

ABSTRACT

A scouring device for manual use has a support formed by folding two longitudinal parts about an axis of symmetry to provide a pad support having a handle which support mounts a pad for cleaning.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a manual scrubbing device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A scouring device for manual use has a support formed by folding a pairof substantially identical longitudinal parts about a central hinge toform a pad mounting portion and a handle portion and a pad adapted to bemounted on the support.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of the scouring device of the instant inventionwhere the two symmetrical longitudinal parts forming the support havenot been folded about their axis of symmetry;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the support and pad of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view similar to FIG. 2 where the support has beenfolded about its axis of symmetry and the two pieces forming the handlesection have been snapped together;

FIG. 3a is a sectional view along the line 3a--3a of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a sewn pad adapted to be mounted on thesupport illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a tubular pad adapted to be mounted onthe support illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a parallelepiped pad adapted to bemounted on the support illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The scouring device of the instant invention is comprised of twoelements. The first is a support and the second is a sliding pad. Thesupport shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 consists of two symmetrical longitudinalparts (A) and (B), preferably identical which can be arranged to extendlengthwise from a central hinge which folds along the device's axis ofsymmetry (p). The hinge has a width (n).

Each of the longitudinal parts (A) and (B) has a first parallelepipedelement (C) and (D) respectively which is bent at a fixed obtuse angle(α), with a second flat parallelepiped element (C') and (D'). The lengthof the second elements (C') and (D') may be different from or equal tothat of the first elements In terms of their respective lengths, thelength of (C) plus the length of (C') equals the length of (D) plus thelength of (D'). The support further consists of a pair of third elements(M1) and (M2) where (M1) is formed of a longitudinal section extendingin a straight line from previous section (C') and (M2) is formed of alongitudinal section which extends in a straight line from previoussection (D'). The cross section of third elements (M1) and (M2) isgenerally semicircular in shape so that by rotation of 180° about thecenter hinge defined at fold line (P), third elements (M1) and (M2) canbe joined together. See FIGS. 3 and 3a. Elements (M1) and (M2) aresnapped longitudinally in place by means of a center longitudinal rail(r) formed in and extending from element (M2) which through manualpressure, penetrates a central longitudinal cavity (c) which faces rail(r) and is formed within the volume defined by third element (M1). Thelength of cavity (c) is slightly greater than the length of rail (r).The depth of cavity (c) is slightly greater than the height of rail (r).The cross sections of rail (r) and cavity (c) are isosceles trapezoidsof identical slope. The male rail section (r) is slightly sturdier thanthe female section cavity (c) to ensure good closure with only slightpressure.

Once third elements (1) and (2) have been joined, they form the handleof the scouring device. Whenever it is necessary to separate them, theycan be spread apart through the application of two gentle radial forcesin opposing directions acting on corresponding grips (k1) and (k2)respectively, preferably arranged in symmetric recesses at the ends ofelements (M1) and (M2) illustrated in FIG. 3.

The above description relates only to the version of the device whereparts (A) and (B) are identical, although it is obvious that otheruseful configurations of parts (A) and (B) exist with differentrespective values for first elements (C) and (D) and second elements(C') and (D') so long as angle (α) and angle (β) remain within operativevalues.

Regardless of the respective configurations of (C'), (C), (D), (D'); (α)and (β), both handle elements (M1) and (M2) retain the specific featuresindicated in the description.

The second element of the device is a sliding pad (t) illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 4. Pad (t) preferably is composed of two panels ofidentical length and width and generally of identical thickness(although this is not essential if the two panels are made of differentmaterials or if, to satisfy some specific requirement, the identicalmaterials are of different thicknesses).

The description relates specifically to a scouring pad since vigorousscouring is the primary purpose of the device.

The two aforementioned panels shall be assumed to be of identicaldimension and cut from a thick, flexible, commercially availablescouring material consisting of abrasive fibers.

The two panels depicted in FIG. 4, are superimposed and their edges aresewn longitudinally along length (L), with a distance (v) between theseams being slightly greater than the width (n) of support elements,(C'), (D) and (D'). The pad thus obtained after realization of the twolateral seams, is able to slide flat along the flat, parallelepipedelements (C), (C'), (D) and (D') whose edges are parallel and separatedby distance (n), after having been introduced by the end of longitudinalsection (M1) of the handle, (preferably being the element that does notcontain the extending rail (r), for greater ease of use), the twolongitudinal third elements (M1) and (M2) thus being in line with oneanother, from one end to the other end of the device when the device isopen as shown in FIG. 2.

The length (L) of sliding pad (t) is equal to or slightly greater thanthe cumulative lengths of elements (C) and (C') or (D) and (D') so asnot to interfere with the closure of the device when the longitudinalstraight element sections (M1) and (M2) are snapped shut during use asillustrated in FIG. 3.

The two panels of the pad can also be cut from a flexible, spongymaterial (vegetable sponge or compact chemical foam), soft material(thick cotton, for example), etc. depending on the specificrequirements.

The two panels of the pad can have different thicknesses. They can be ofdifferent materials sewn longitudinally (for example, one scouring sideand one soft or spongy side). They can also be glued longitudinallyalong their opposing edges to cut costs during manufacture of the pads,provided that the glue used is chemically compatible with the materialused for the scouring support.

Rather than using a two-sided pad cut from the same material with thesame thickness, we can also use a thick tubular pad, shown in FIG. 5,cut, for example, from a commercially available, flexible scouringmaterial consisting of abrasive fibers. In this case it is alongitudinally flattened pad of length (L) that must be inserted flatalong elements (C'), (C), (D) and (D') for a distance that extendsslightly beyond the hinge during the device's initial use. If (n) is thewidth of the support, the useful width of the flattened pad correspondsto (v) which is equal to or slightly greater than width (n).

This useful width is simply the half-circumference of a circle definedby the interior cross-section of the tube illustrated in FIG. 5. If thelength of the circumference is described by the formula 2Π times theradius of a circle, the interior half-circumference is equal to Π timesthe radius of the interior circle. Thus, width (v) equals Π times theradius of the interior circle, which gives a useful radius for thecircle formed by the interior cross-section of the tubular scouring padof (v) divided by Π.

Obviously the thickness of the flexible tube of scouring material willhave an operating limit relating to the value of the acute angle (β)between the flat parallelepiped elements (C) and (D) of the hinge toenable the support to close (FIG. 3) by joining the two longitudinalsection (M1) and (M2) that form the handle.

Finally, the pad described by the invention can be realized from aone-piece parallelepiped-shaped panel with a central hollow whose width(v) and whose height is adjusted for the thickness of the elements (C'),(C), (D), and (D') as shown in FIG. 6.

FIGS. 4 through 6 represent the three types of pads described above thatare most suitable for the support according to the invention.

FIG. 4 represents a sewn pad, FIG. 5 represents a tubular pad employedflat, and FIG. 6 represents a one-piece parallelepiped pad whose centeris hollow.

For manual industrial use it is appropriate to incorporate a robustsupport produced from a material with high mechanical strength andabrasive pads that are sufficiently flexible and of various hardness andcomposition depending on use. For example, to scour a sheet of stainlesssteel covered with oxidation pits, a specific pad must be used that doesnot contain any iron particles; this is to avoid recontaminating themetal being deoxidized. Another example would be the cleaning of asilver plated metal surface. Here a pad must be used whose externalsurfaces are extremely soft and covered with PTFE (Teflon®) to avoidscratching the surface being cleaned and even impart a shine.

For household use scouring frying pans, saucepans, dishes, stockpots,etc., the support will preferably be injection-molded of polypropylenefrom a mechanical release mold, primarily because of the handle design.After mechanical demolding, the two longitudinal sections (M1) and (M2)are joined and locked together under slight pressure and remain lockedthrough pressure of the user's hand. This maintains the two sections incontact, one inside the other, during use of the device. The two hinged,flat parallelepiped elements (C) and (D), as well as their respectiveflat angular extensions, the flat parallelepiped elements (C') and (D'),all have a uniform thickness of between approximately 2 and 3millimeters, providing sufficient mechanical strength for vigoroushousehold scouring. The excess material on (C') and (D'), near the rootof each of the two longitudinal sections (M1) and (M2) forming thehandle, provide greater strength for the device during use, along eitherof its active surfaces, when strong pressure or a rubbing motion isapplied to the surface being cleaned, whether said surface be flat,convex, or concave.

The center hinge between elements (C) and (D) can be a "natural" hinge,incorporated into the injection mold through simple reduction of thethickness of material at the throat (FIG. 2) along the length of foldline (p) toward the interior of angle (β) formed between elements (A)and (B). The thickness of the material at the throat may have a depththat is between 1/3 and 1/2 the thickness of the flat parallelepipedelements (C) or (D) and a throat width which varies with the desiredangle (β) between elements (C) and (D), which angle should be between35° and 45° to provide the best attack on the surface being scouredusing one of the two active surfaces of the device.

We do not recommend that the exterior hinge angle between the externalsurfaces of elements (C) and (D) be too acute, since pressure from thescouring pad on the acute angle of the support when rubbed against thebottom surface of a vessel with vertical or similar sides may promotepremature tearing of the scouring pad along the contact line of the padcovering the external edge of the hinge. The outside end of the supporthinge must have sufficient roundness to avoid prematurely damaging thepad.

The opposed and preferably equal angles (α) between interior surfaces ofelements (C) and (C') and interior surfaces of elements (D) and (D')should be between approximately 135° and 145° so that insertion of thepad when flat, preferably from the end of the longitudinal section (M1)of the handle (said handle element not having central longitudinal rail(r)), can easily be realized without the inconvenience of an excessivelysharp angle, which would interfere with the movement of the pad towardthe hinge or prevent such movement.

The operation of the device involves successive use of either surface ofthe pad, after said pad is reversed, which requires removal of the flatpad by the handle so that its opposite active surface is exposed, thengradual movement of the pad perpendicularly to the hinge along elements(C'), (C), (D) and (D') or in the opposite direction, in such a way thatwear on the pad along the hinge can be periodically interrupted, thatis, before it tears, and so the device can continue to operate with thepad in good condition near the hinge, until the pad is uniformly wornthroughout its length on either side. By opening the device to itsfullest extent of 180° at the hinge, (the two longitudinal sections (M1)and (M2) thus being approximately in a straight line with one another),the sliding pad can advance over the device. When the device is closed(the two longitudinal sections (M1) and (M2) thus being joined as aunit) the pad can be angularly locked in place along a portion of itswidth covering the hinge and showing no signs of wear.

I claim my inventions as follows:
 1. A scouring device for manual usewhich comprises:a support comprised of first and second symmetricallongitudinal parts joined lengthwise across their width about the foldline of a central hinge which hinge forms an axis of symmetry for saidsupport and wherein each of said first and second longitudinal parts hasa first flat parallelepiped element joined to a second flatparallelepiped element of the same width at a fixed obtuse angle ofbetween 135° and 145° and a third element joined to said second elementand having a longitudinal section extending in a straight line andhaving a semicircular cross section, wherein one of said third elementlongitudinal sections has a longitudinal central cavity and the other ofsaid third element longitudinal sections has a longitudinal rail suchthat said rail firmly resides within said cavity such that said one andsaid other third elements form a handle when said first and second partsare rotated 180° about said hinge to join said one and said other thirdelements together and wherein said first flat parallelepiped elements ofsaid first and second longitudinal parts are joined at an acute angle ofbetween 35° and 45° when said one and said other third element arejoined together; and a pad having a length substantially equal to orgreater than the cumulative lengths of one of said first and secondelements, a width substantially equal to that of said first and secondelements and wherein said pad can move along said pairs of first andsecond elements and will be fastened in any of a plurality of positionswhen said one and said other third elements are brought together.
 2. Thescouring device according to claim 1 wherein said rail has an isoscelestrapezoid cross section.
 3. The scouring device according to claim 1,characterized in that the pad comprises two superimposed panels sewntogether along the edges of their sides to define a width between saidsewed edges slightly greater than the width of said first and secondelements.
 4. The scouring device according to claim 1, characterized inthat the pad is tubular, and has a width defined by the value of thehalf-circumference of the circle forming the interior cross-section ofthe tubular pad which width is slightly greater than the width of saidfirst and second elements.
 5. The scouring device according to claim 1,characterized in that the pad is formed from a panel whose cross-sectionis a parallelepiped having an opening slightly greater than the width ofsaid first and second elements.
 6. The scouring device according toclaim 1, characterized in that the separation of said one and said otherthird element occurs through the application of two opposing radialforces applied at one of the ends of said one and said other thirdelements.
 7. A scouring device for manual use which comprises:a supportcomprised of first and second symmetrical longitudinal parts joinedlengthwise across their width about the fold line of a central hingewhich hinge forms an axis of symmetry for said support and wherein eachof said first and second longitudinal parts has a first flatparallelepiped element joined to a second flat parallelepiped element ofthe same width at a fixed obtuse angle and a third element joined tosaid second element and having a longitudinal section extending in astraight line said third elements incorporating locking means forlocking said third elements together such that said third elements forma handle when said first and second parts are rotated 180° about saidhinge to join said third elements together; and a pad having a widthsubstantially equal to that of one of said first and second elements andwherein said pad can move along said pairs of first and second elementsand will be fastened in any of a plurality of positions when said thirdelements are joined together.
 8. The scouring device according to claim7 wherein said support is formed by injection-molding.
 9. The scouringdevice according to claim 7 wherein said support is formed ofpolypropylene.